11 Festive Things To Do in New York City During the Christmas Holiday Season

Have you always dreamed of Christmas in New York? Here are 11 of the best festive things to do in New York City during the Christmas holiday season.

Latest update November 2023

We have visited New York City during the holiday season several times and it’s one of my favourite times of the year in the city. Sure it can be unbelievably crowded, but there’s a festive spirit and seasonal magic in the air that makes the city seem all the more beautiful.

These are our favourite things to do in New York City at Christmas.

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1. Visit Rockefeller Plaza

It doesn’t matter what time of year that we visit New York City, the first thing that we do is head to Rockefeller Plaza. The seasonal displays in the Channel Gardens are beautiful any time of the year but the Christmas installation is my favourite – and a holiday trip to NYC wouldn’t be complete without checking out the famous Rockefeller Christmas Tree and the skaters on the iconic rink.

The area around Rockefeller Plaza is generally very crowded so try to get an early start for better photo opportunities but be sure to stop by in the evening at some point as well because the tree is stunning when it’s lit up.

2. Skating in NYC

Skating outdoors is an important part of a holiday trip to New York for many visitors. The best-known skating rink is the one at Rockefeller Plaza but did you know that there are less busy rinks in midtown Manhattan?

Just a few blocks south of the Rockefeller Center, you can rent skates and hit the ice at the Bryant Park rink (5th Avenue and 42nd Street) which is the only free admission ice skating rink in New York City. Central Park’s Wollman Rink (around 6th Avenue and 59th Street) is another popular outdoor skating venue and while there is a fee to skate at this rink, it is less expensive than the Rockefeller Center rink ($15-35 USD for adult admission).

If your trip wouldn’t be complete without skating at the Rockefeller Center Rink (Rockefeller Plaza between 49th and 50th) then enjoy every minute! General admission tickets for 60 minutes of skating are now purchased for a specific date and time so you can book in advance of your trip to guarantee your spot (tickets are currently on sale through March 24, 2024). Admission for one adult ranges from $21-73 USD.

3. Meet Santa Claus at Macy’s

Chances are that if you have ever watched Miracle on 34th Street, you have thought about meeting the “real Santa” at Macy’s flagship department store in Herald Square. We have always visited New York between Christmas and New Year’s so never had an opportunity to meet the Macy’s Santa Claus when our girls were young and a part of me regrets that just a bit.

If you do have an opportunity to be in New York between the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday and Christmas Eve then make a point of taking your children to Macy’s Santaland (advance reservations are required in order to minimize the waiting time to see Santa).

Located at 151 W. 34th Street. By reservation only November 24 – December 24, 2023. Reservations can be made up to 5 days in advance and open each day at 6:30am. Admission to Santaland is free, photo packages start at $39.99 USD.

4. Stroll 6th Avenue

The over-sized Christmas ornaments on 6th Avenue (Avenue of the Americas) are one of my favourite attractions in NYC during the holidays – you can’t help but smile when you see these giant decorations!!

While you are in the neighbourhood, pop into Magnolia Bakery at the corner of 49th Street and 6th Avenue for a treat. There might be a line-up but it’s worth the queue for their delectable cupcakes. We particularly liked the Christmas Rockettes cupcakes that were on sale last year. I resisted the temptation, but apparently they were delicious!!

5. Take a Holiday Lights Tour

A holiday lights tour is the perfect way to get you in the spirit of the season in New York. One of the city’s most popular tours is the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Bus Tour offered by A Slice of Brooklyn Bus Tours which visits the Dyker Heights neighbourhood of Brooklyn to see the extravagant light displays.

This tour always sells out so be sure to reserve your spot early. We tried to book it prior to our visit last year and were out of luck because I had waited too long. The 3.5 hour tours which depart from Union Square are available every night in December (except for December 24th and 25th) at 6, 7 or 8 pm. (Adults: $55, Children under 12: $45)

If you’re also a movie fan then you might enjoy On Location Tours’ Holiday Lights & Movie Sights Tour which will take you to the filming locations of your favourite holiday movies set in New York including Miracle on 34th Street, Elf, Home Alone 2, Eloise at Christmastime, Serendipity and more.

6. Attend a Performance of the Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes

When my daughters were young, we saw a touring version of the Radio City Rockettes’ Christmas Spectacular in Toronto and from that moment I wanted to see the show in New York. I finally had the opportunity when we visited New York City between Christmas and New Year’s a couple of years ago and attended one of the performances at Radio City Music Hall – on my birthday which was the best present!

The iconic Radio City Rockettes are a world-famous precision dance company that was originally formed almost a century ago. The high-kicking Rockettes have been starring in the Radio City Music Hall’s Christmas show since it was first staged in 1933. The show is a beloved holiday tradition popular with both visitors to the city as well as New Yorkers and is attended by over 1 million people annually.

Each year’s version of the Christmas Spectacular adds a little something new as well as presenting all of the traditional favourites including the Living Nativity, Parade of the Wooden Soldiers, Rag Doll and New York at Christmas. Attending a performance of the show is the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit in New York City!

Run time for the Christmas Spectacular is 90 minutes with no intermission (ideal for families with young children with shorter attention spans) and it’s performed several times a day during the holiday season so it’s easy to fit into your itinerary.

We attended a late morning performance so that we would still be able to fit in another Broadway show later that day. FYI – there’s no longer a touring production so if you want to see the show then start planning your holiday trip to New York!

Radio City Music Hall is located at 1260 Avenue of the Americas. Shows run from November – January 1, 2024. Black Friday offer – save up to 50% through Sunday November 26th – restrictions apply – see website for details.

7. Enjoy a Holiday Train Show

The Holiday Train Show is back at the New York Transit Museum‘s Grand Central Gallery & Store for the first time since the pandemic closure.

This beloved holiday exhibit features Lionel model trains traveling along a 34’ long, two-level model train layout departing from a miniature replica of Grand Central Terminal and making its way past New York City landmarks on the way to the North Pole. Everyone loves trains so this exhibit is perfect for all ages! The theme of the holiday train show changes every year and the event is free and open to the public. (Located just off the Main Concourse in the Shuttle Passage, adjacent to the Station Master’s office, November 24, 2023 through February 2024)

If you don’t mind heading out of midtown Manhattan, there’s also a Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Gardens which features model trains zipping through a display of close to 200 New York City landmarks including the Brooklyn Bridge, Yankee Stadium and the Statue of Liberty re-created with barks, leaves and other natural materials. This year features an all-new outdoor display. (2900 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY (20 minutes from Grand Central). November 17, 2023 – January 15, 2024. Advance purchase of timed-entry tickets is recommended. Adult Admission: $35 USD; Child 2-12: $20 USD.)

8. Browse the Holiday Window Displays on 5th Avenue

One of the best things about being in New York City during the Christmas season is seeing the brilliant holiday window displays of the major department stores on 5th Avenue. Be sure to check out Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, Lord & Taylor, Macy’s, and Bloomingdales.

9. Visit the Bryant Park Holiday Market

Visiting Christmas markets in Europe has been high on my travel wish list for years but until such time as I’m able to travel to Europe in December, I satisfy myself by visiting European-style Christmas Markets in North America.

If you enjoy these open-air markets as much as I do then you must visit the European-inspired Holiday Shops that are set up in the Bryant Park Winter Village in custom-designed kiosks behind the New York Public Library (between 40th and 42nd Streets & Fifth and Sixth Avenues). The shops feature artisans from New York City and around the world.

It’s fun to browse the market’s kiosks, try some of the delicious eats for sale and shop for the perfect gift for that special someone (or yourself!). If you’re travelling with small children then be sure to ride the old-fashioned carousel while visiting the park.

October 27, 2023 – January 2, 2024; Mon – Fri 11 am – 8 pm; Sat and Sun 10 am – 8 pm.

10. Attend a New York City Ballet Performance of The Nutcracker

Whether or not The Nutcracker is part of your family’s holiday tradition, you should consider taking in one of the New York City Ballet’s performances of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker if you happen to be in New York during the holiday season.

The magical ballet which includes a Christmas tree that grows to a height of 41 feet and weighs 1 ton is one of those experiences that you should have at least once in your lifetime. Performances are at The Lincoln Center on the Upper West Side beginning late November and running through until late December.

David H. Koch Theater, 20 Lincoln Center Plaza. Friday November 24 – Sunday December 31, 2023. Recommended for ages 5+. Running time approximately 2 hours.

11. See the Christmas Exhibition at The Met

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of my favourite museums in New York and when you visit during the holiday season you will be treated to a special exhibition. The Met has a longstanding holiday tradition of displaying a 20 foot tall blue spruce in the Medieval Sculpture Hall along with an 18th century Neapolitan Nativity scene that includes many exquisite crèche figures all set in front of a Spanish choir screen from the same time period.

The tree is decorated with cherubs and angels and the figurines in the Nativity at the base of the tree include shepherds and their flocks and the three Magi as well as Neapolitan peasants and townspeople.

The elegant exhibit is on display from late November through the first week of January. There are no tree lighting events scheduled this year. (Through January 7, 2024)

The Met Fifth Avenue, 1000 Fifth Avenue